HM ''section Commander'' among 4 ultras killed

8 December 2002The Daily ExcelsiorExcelsior Correspondent

Jammu: Army today eliminated four terrorists including a ‘section commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit in two separate encounters in Poonch and Doda districts today. Defence sources said army personnel raided a hideout of the terrorists at village Rajada Bohriwala in Marhot area of Surankote tehsil in Poonch district this evening. The operation was carried out on a specific information that a group of terrorists had taken shelter in an abandoned dhok in the village with a view to carry out some killings tonight. Troops challenged the terrorists and asked them to surrender but they opened heavy firing with AK-56 rifles. Firing was replied by the army soldiers. Exchange of firing continued for about one and a half hour in which three terrorists were killed. Sources said two other terrorists escaped during the encounter. Army continued searches in Marhot forests to eliminate two absconding terrorists but they remained untraced. Two AK rifles, one pistol, three AK magazines, one pistol magazine, 39 AK rounds and one wireless set were recovered from the slain terrorists. Army didn’t suffer any casualty in the operation, the sources said. Another terrorist was eliminated by army in Padipura village in Doda district this afternoon. He has been identified as Mohd Shaffi Moulvi alias Hansa Farebi son of Ghulam Mohd R-o Wanipura, Doda. Hansa Farebi was a ‘section commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen. One AK rifle, one 9 mm round, 29 AK rounds and some explosives material was recovered from the scene of encounter, the sources said. Meanwhile, army and police today destroyed a hideout of the terrorists at Seri Top in Marmat area of Doda. Recoveries made from the hideout included one binocular, 150 pencil cells, one battery, one film roll, one pocket diary, 20 socks pairs, some photographs and dry fruits. The terrorists were not present in the hideout when the raid was carried out.